History of YCU

Growing with the International City of Yokohama

YCU has shared its path with the City of Yokohama which celebrates
the 150th anniversary this year of the opening of its port to the world.

As the pioneer of commercial education and hospital for all

The origin of Yokohama City University can be traced back to Yokohama School of Commerce founded in 1882. Since the opening of the port, Yokohama turned into a center of trade in Japan. Yokohama School of Commerce was established to develop human resources equipped with western commercial techniques. Because of its policy of complete educational pragmatism, many children of merchants in Yokohama who had a strong interest in learning attended this school.
After graduation, many of them contributed to the development of the city in the front lines of trade industry. Yokohama School of Commerce then developed into Yokohama City College of Commerce （Y college）, which is the origin of Yokohama City University.
Another origin of YCU is Juzen Hospital of Nogeyama in 1874.
Although Yokohama was the center of western medicine at that time,
there was no hospital for the citizens. Juzen Hospital was established to respond to the earnest needs of the community. Juzen Hospital then turned into Yokohama Municipal Medical College, which has developed into today痴 YCU Hospital and School of Medicine.

Foundation of Yokohama City University - University to provide wide spectrum of education and research

It was in 1949 when Yokohama City University was founded as a new-system university equipped with the Commercial Faculty and the Economic Research Institute. Three years later（ in 1952）, YCU incorporated Yokohama Medical School and established the School of Medicine. By establishing an additional faculty, Literature and Science Faculty, YCU formulated a three-faculty system that year. Literature and Science Faculty was established in order to serve as a bridge between the two faculties: the Commercial Faculty and the School of
Medicine; which seem to be diffi cult to link together.
In addition, YCU has been involved in leading-edge research activities from a global perspective. Kihara Institute for Biological Research established in 1984 is the center of Plant Genome Science along with the master痴 and doctorate programs（ Tsurumi campus, 2002） in collaboration with RIKEN.

University reform - Toward a more attractive university

When YCU was converted into an independent administrative entity, the Business, International Liberal Arts, and Sciences faculties merged to form the "International College of Arts and Sciences." YCU made a new start as a two-faculty system including this new faculty and the "School of Medicine." The school has steadily implemented reform towards internationalization by promoting practical liberal arts education as a concept of the university. YCU has introduced curriculum to enhance language skills of students and achieved
leading-edge research projects with overseas research institutions.
YCU has been working to create a university that attracts a lot of excellent students while keeping the original spirit at the time of foundation, such as the advanced learn-by-doing teaching method and contribution to the community and society.